Columbia, South Carolina (CNN) - Gov. Nikki Haley's campaign headquarters will soon be home to Rick Perry's presidential campaign staff in South Carolina.

The Texas governor's wife, Anita, will be a special guest at the campaign headquarters' grand opening next Wednesday, Sept. 21, according to South Carolina State Director Chris McClure.
The campaign has posted the event, which is free and open to the public, on Facebook.

Former South Carolina GOP Chairman Katon Dawson, who is the candidate's state chairman, said they looked at several places near downtown Columbia but Haley's headquarters turned out to be right space to run a statewide campaign.

"That certainly was good luck for Nikki Haley, we certainly hope it will be good luck for Rick Perry," said Dawson.

Perry's South Carolina team includes Dawson, Walter Whetsell serving as senior adviser, McClure, Le Price as state political director, and fundraiser Sunny Phillips serving as state finance director.

The campaign is still staffing up but Dawson said they expect to have a statewide presence in the critical early southern primary state.

"South Carolina is the quintessential description of hardball politics and we'll be looking forward to engaging," he said.

CNN previously reported that Dawson and Whetsell were among the clutch of operatives who left former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's sputtering campaign in June. The two have since maintained ties with their fellow former Gingrich aides Dave Carney and Rob Johnson, two of Perry's most trusted political confidantes who are part of Perry's national campaign team.

soundoff(8 Responses)

John Mercer

All the Republican Presidential candidates have extreme views and criticisms regarding the current administration and the economic/social state of our country Some of their views and opinions hold merit, some don't. If these candidates are TRUE patriots, and hold the well being and success of our country above all else, it would be a great feat, on their part, to create an ad hoc committee to influence our legislators to formulate a "way out". Now! And stop trying to railroad any and all Administration efforts. It is quite obvious to many Americans, that their agenda is to bury the current Administration, and ensure their own election. This may come at a great price to our country. The Republicans have 1 year, and 2 months to destroy our country just for the sake of their election win.

September 15, 2011 07:01 pm at 7:01 pm |

Wire Palladin, S. F.

Bad news for Michele Bachmann, it looks like Nikki and Ricky playing cowboys and Indians?

September 15, 2011 07:02 pm at 7:02 pm |

JP

He should stay with the people who he does the most for, he should stay with the illegals.

September 15, 2011 08:10 pm at 8:10 pm |

the prophet

Yeah Perry nice belt, when is the lady friend coming out of the closet? Thanks to Bush and Obama, for impoverishing the middle class of America what are you going to do hand us the change in pennies? About if in America no one goes to vote in protest for the terrible job the Government is doing. If no one votes there will be no Government and then we may begin the reform process by the peoples for the peoples.

September 15, 2011 08:48 pm at 8:48 pm |

Marie MD

I love how these wives (husbands) parade themselves as if they are so in love and together. Wasn't his wife going for a divorce until his god told him to run?

September 15, 2011 09:27 pm at 9:27 pm |

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ

I hope that Perry starts to learn about that there is real science out there that. If only he would learn that the scientist shouldn't be paid by companies like those from the oil and coal companies. If Haley had good luck, it could have stopped with her. He'll burn out before all the primaries are over.

September 15, 2011 10:01 pm at 10:01 pm |

T'sah from Virginia

And the moral of this story is??????????????????? Should we think now that Haley may endorse Perry??? If that is what we're NOT to believe – then this story is irrelevant. We heard NOTHING about any other candidate from the far-RIGHT setting up campaign offices, did we???